+44 345 565 1725 
A new academic year is upon us, and something we look forward to every year is seeing our former students being accepted into the universities of their dreams to study degrees centred around medicine, healthcare, science, and research. It is even better when they reach out to let us know and mention that their medical training course with BioGrad helped them stand out in their university interviews.
Last week, we chatted to Muhammad Amir, who studied Clinical Skills and Medical Research in August last year. We caught up with Muhammad to congratulate him on being accepted into the University of Manchester to study medicine, and to discuss what he gained from his time with BioGrad.
We chatted to Muhammad just after he had finished Freshers’ Week. “It has been enjoyable. It has been nice to meet new people,” he explains when asked how everything has been so far. “Right now, I am just looking to take everything one step at a time, but when I was applying to medicine, what really excited me was the early patient interaction. It is a good thing that the university allows us to do this. Even as soon as the first year starts, you get to speak to real patients.”
The communication element of university is something particularly exciting for Muhammad, especially after taking one of our medical training courses. “I thought Dr Jamie Paweleck was really passionate and gave us good insights into medicine. I remember on the first day, we learnt about taking a patient’s history and had simulations of speaking to a patient. I found that interesting because we were finding out more about how to diagnose the way a doctor would. They gave us the medical insight, but more importantly, they gave us the insight on how to communicate with patients and the different types of skills that you would use.”
At BioGrad, we know how important it is to stand out to universities and provide ample learning opportunities to young people through medical training courses. Muhammad stood out to us when applying for a scholarship to study with BioGrad, and we continue to be impressed by his journey into medicine. It is never easy, and Muhammad offered some advice to students starting their A Levels. “In terms of A Level exams, it can be a stressful time for anyone, especially if you secure a medicine offer. I think the best way to manage stress is to have a lot of different hobbies. For me, I just like going on walks, going to the gym, things like that.”
Focusing on personal statements can sometimes take over when revising and studying for A Levels, and pressure can increase with so much going on. Muhammad remembers how important it is to manage stress and prioritise. “It is important to stay on top of your work, especially because maybe you just sat the UCAT, and you have interviews coming up, personal statement and everything, and it can be easy to forget about A Levels. But actually, it is so important to focus on them from the beginning so that it does not pile up, and that way you can manage your stress. For me, I was still making Anki flash cards throughout everything. So when it came to exam season, I already had a good foundation and just had to go over things. I think it is important to stay on top of your work and maintain your hobbies. Go out with your friends, go to different events, and have a good time.”
The study life balance continues at university, too. “[The University of Manchester has] got a lot of great societies, some of which I have already joined, such as the Islamic Society. I am looking forward to playing cricket at the university. I think it is good for me to make new friends.”
A career in medicine is one many decide on from a young age, so it was interesting to learn that Muhammad was not considering medicine originally. “I ended up doing a bit of engineering work experience, and I realised that sitting down in an office and doing a job like that was not for me. I was not sure about medicine, but I tried different options, and I realised that with medicine, I had the opportunity to speak to different people, and that is something I really enjoy—meeting people and building relationships. That is what sparked my interest. And the fact that the degree has many specialties.”
As for the future, Muhammad is completely open to the learning experience and embracing the university journey. “In our university, we have years 3 and 4, and that is all placements. So we get to see different specialties. That is what I am looking forward to, and that is what I think will help shape my decision.” The passion is evident, and we can tell this will be a time of thriving for Muhammad. “As a medical student, I look forward to the studying element of it. I think the human body is so fascinating, so intricate. It is so deep how everything is working together, and each thing you can spend your whole life studying and still not fully understand it.” Studying medicine means taking each step as it comes and immersing yourself in the experience. It is a scary time, in the best way. The future opens up before your eyes, and you begin to live more independently.
At BioGrad Education, we offer science and medical training courses for young people aged 16 to 19 to bolster experience, stand out in university interviews, and allow young people to test drive their careers. As we ended our interview, Muhammad offered advice to anyone joining one of our courses, especially those applying for scholarships. “Just give it a good go. If there is something you are interested in, go for it. You will meet new people. I still stay in touch with a few people from my group. You will get good insights. On top of everything else, I like that BioGrad offers scholarships for these courses. You might think, ‘there is only one or two, you are never going to get it’, but there is no harm in applying. Just be yourself. Tell your story, and you might end up getting it.”
Our science and medical training courses for young people aged 16 to 19 are more varied than ever before. To find out more and discover the course that may open your future and allow you to test drive your career, visit BioGrad Education’s website.
